League of Women Voters hold Glenville candidate forum

GLENVILLE  Democrats are hoping John Lockwood can provide them with a seat on the all-Republican Glenville Town Board.

Republican incumbents Gina Wierzbowski and John Pytlovany are seeking to be reelected to the Glenville Town Board, but there is a sole Democrat, Jon Lockwood, running for a seat. The candidates faced off during a League of Women Voters candidate forum held on Monday, Oct. 17, at the Glenville Municipal Center. GOP incumbents focused on what progress has been made under their leadership, while Lockwood said the board has little dissent or discussion with a one-party rule.

“I decided to run for Town Board because I have a concern that the Town Board is pushing [Supervisor Christopher Koetzle’s] agenda without any sort of opposition,” Lockwood said during his opening statement. “I think different and new viewpoints are healthy for a local government and I think the all-Republican board … I think they would benefit from different viewpoints.”

Wierzbowski, liaison to the Public Works Department during her tenure on the board, pointed to a $50,000 savings from reorganizing plowing routes and keeping the bulk item and leaf pick-up programs for residents. Also, she said a leaf-composting program resulted in a $10,000 reduction in the budget.

Pytlovany was appointed to the board in March after Mark Quinn resigned to work for the Schenectady County Board of Elections. His many years of police service and prior experience with balancing budgets are things he pointed to as strengths.

When the candidates were asked about what could be consolidated in the town, Pytlovany said the board has worked for the past two years to see what areas can be consolidated.

“Obviously, 65 percent of your budget is personnel, so whatever personnel that we can get to be able to do more than one job would be beneficial as far as the budget goes without sacrificing services,” Pytlovany said. “You will see that in what our current budget is proposing.”